Two years removed from the last time he won a stakes race, and at the same track no less, Rocket Can (Into Mischief) turned his fortunes around with a game victory in the GII Harlan's Holiday Stakes.
The three-quarter-length victor of the GIII Holy Bull Stakes in 2023, his connections took a shot at the Derby trail and the race itself, but ultimately had to go on the sidelines after finishing ninth on the big day. Gone until March of this year, when he made a successful return to the races at Oaklawn against optional claimers, he stayed in that condition for the next several races. He did not see the winner's circle again until this contest, and ended up a long way ninth last out Dec. 1 in the Listed Cherokee Mile Stakes at Churchill Downs after giving the gate crew issues and taking contact early.
Let go here at 10-1 by the betting public, Rocket Can settled in sixth as 8-5 favorite GSW Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance) stepped forward to contest the issue on the outside of two others. In no hurry as the leading pack put up :23.93, :49.01, and 1:13.13 splits, he was the looming danger around the far turn as the speed started backing up. Bidding for the lead as they swung into the lane, he gradually inched away from the betting choice to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Tumbarumba held on to the runner-up spot while GSW Steal Sunshine (Constitution) rolled in from the back to claim third.
“He was feeling very good today,” said winning rider Junior Alvarado. “He was on his toes and that's the kind of way you want to feel going into the race. This horse means a lot to me and the owner has been very supportive of me through the years. It's always great to win with these kinds of connections. It makes it very extra special.”
When asked if the colt could make his next start in the GI Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Jan. 25, trainer Bill Mott said, “I guess we would have to consider it. I don't know if he's great at nine furlongs, but we would have to consider it because he does like the racetrack.”
“Maybe we'll look at it. You can have a good payday in there, I guess, even if you don't win.”
#7 ROCKET CAN ($22.00) rallied down the center of the track like a rocket to win the $165,000 Harlan's Holiday Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park. The son of Into Mischief was ridden by @JuniorandKellyA and is trained by Bill Mott.
Watch more on @FanDuelTV, pic.twitter.com/PrY3l3mUso
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) December 21, 2024
Pedigree Note:
The first for his dam to find success on the track, Rocket Can is also Tension's first to claim any black-type. The mare is a half-sister to GSW & GISP Tiz Midnight (Midnight Lute), who set the track record for 1 1/16-miles en route to her victory in the GII Bayakoa Stakes at Los Alamitos, and who went on to produce MGSW & GISP Midnight Memories (Mastery). Ironically, both mom and daughter participated in the Zenyatta Stakes–the former when it was listed as a Grade I when she ran second, and the latter won it later as a Grade II contest. Another half-sister went on to produce GSP American Blaze (American Freedom).
The second dam Tough Tiz's Sis (Tiznow) was a multiple Grade I-winning mare and is herself a half-sibling to two other Listed and graded runners.
Tension's most recent to the races is unplaced 3-year-old Mongolian Max (City of Light) after she came up barren to Improbable in 2022. She produced a yearling filly by Collected the year after which is her last registered thus far. She went to Elite Power for 2025 after missing to Curlin in 2024.
Saturday, Gulfstream
HARLAN'S HOLIDAY S.-GIII, $150,000, Gulfstream, 12-21, 3yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:45.01, ft.
1–ROCKET CAN, 121, c, 4, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Tension, by Tapit
2nd Dam: Tough Tiz's Sis, by Tiznow
3rd Dam: Leaseholder, by Taylor's Falls
($245,000 RNA Ylg '21 FTSAUG). O-Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc.; B-Woodford Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Junior Alvarado. $90,210. Lifetime Record: 15-4-4-0, $612,193. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Tumbarumba, 123, g, 4, Oscar Performance–Naive Enough, by Street Sense. ($30,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Coteau Grove Farms, LLC (LA); T-Brian A. Lynch. $29,100.
3–Steal Sunshine, 123, h, 5, Constitution–Warm Sunshine, by Unbridled's Song. O-Michael & Jules Iavarone, Carrie L. Brogden, Kevin J. Pollard, Ed Gorry and David Menard; B-Machmer Hall (KY); T-Bobby S. Dibona. $14,550.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3 3/4, 3HF. Odds: 10.00, 1.60, 7.00.
Also Ran: Cape Trafalgar, Digital Ops, Vitality, Tuscan Sky, Super Corinto (Arg).
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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